Super Rugby

Super Rugby team by team preview Semi-finals

Heiden Bedwell-Curtis of the Crusaders dives over to score a try during the round 15 Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Hurricanes at AMI Stadium

Super Rugby has reached the Semi-final stage which means that eleven teams out of the fifteen have been eliminated and there are just four teams remaining.

The Crusaders and Lions finished the regular season as the two highest ranked teams so after winning their Quarter-finals they will host their Semi-finals.

Depending on how results go this weekend the 2018 Super rugby final could be hosted in Christchurch, Johannesburg or Sydney. The Hurricanes cannot host the final so if they win this weekend they will have to travel.

If the Crusaders win their Super rugby semi-final they will host the 2018 Super rugby grand final next weekend.

If the Crusaders lose their match the winner of the Lions vs Waratahs match will host the Super rugby final.

South Africa’s Lions host the second Super rugby semi-final at altitude in Johannesburg against the Waratahs who they have beaten in their last three matches.

The Lions have already played the Waratahs this season and in that match was won 29-0 by the Lions in Sydney. That result is the Waratahs biggest loss this season.

Overall the Lions have played the Waratahs 18 times in Super rugby and they have won 4 matches and lost 14.

The Lions have played the Waratahs just 6 times in Johannesburg and in those 6 matches the Lions have won three and lost three. The last Waratahs victory in Johannesburg was in May 2009.

The average score when the Lions play the Waratahs in Johannesburg is Lions 30 Waratahs 30.

This year the Lions have played 17 Super rugby matches and won 10. The Lions have played 9 matches at home in 2018 and won 7.

The Waratahs have played 17 matches as well this season and they have won 10, drawn one and lost six. The Waratahs only match in 2018 played in South Africa was against the Sharks and they drew 24 all. Technically this makes the Waratahs unbeaten on South African soil in 2018.

The Lions have played in four Semi-finals since 2000 and they have won two and lost two. The Waratahs have played in 7 Super rugby Semi-finals since 2002 and they have won three.

The Waratahs have not beaten the Lions since May 2014 – the year they went on to win their first ever Super rugby title.